Staff Debate: Biggest Fallball Storylines

Also, Quint gave us this week his 10 storylines he's following in the fall. We piggy-backed on that with the IL staff's things they'll be watching this fall. Check back in the coming weeks as fallball really heats up with events, practice coverage and more.

Casey Vock (@CVock)

I’m looking forward to a few things related to the Syracuse Orange. First, how quickly can some of the highly-touted freshman make an impact on this team? I suspect Jordan Evans, even if he doesn’t fill the big empty shoes left by JoJo Marasco, to have an immediate impact at the midfield, though he could get a look at attack too. But he’s not the only guy who comes in with the ability to make a difference from day one. I think the sleeper pickup in that healthy class of recruits is Ryan Simmons, who I could see filling a two-way role with his gritty, blue-collar style of play, well-rounded skills and his immense understanding of the game (check the last name). Second, what will the Orange attack look like now that Nicky Galasso will be at full strength and have the opportunity to work alongside the likes of Derek Maltz, Kevin Rice and Dylan Donahue? And even though it will be interesting to see how the Orange’s face-off game is altered from last year, with some interesting candidates coming in, I think an even more intriguing storyline is going to be the return of my new Big Tex, Brandon Mullins. Prior to his injury last season, some predicted he could be one of the very best defenders in the country, and he looked every bit the part before going down early in 2013. This could be a Peter Baum-like story if he rises to the level of play many believe he is capable of putting on display in the Dome, and that could be important for the game of lacrosse and its growth. Mullins, Matt Harris and a pack of solid poles and close defenders could help make this yet another staunch Syracuse defense. You’ve got to think this team’s mighty hungry, especially when you consider that the only weakness you could identify in last year’s Orange squad was face-offs and that proved to be the difference in the NCAA championship loss to Duke. That being said, we’ll be talking a lot about whomever is taking draws for the Orange this fall and how that plays out.

Additionally, I’m looking forward to seeing what the Albany Great Danes can do this fall to improve overall as a team and carry that momentum into the spring. I talked to Scott Marr a few times over the summer, and he spoke with optimism about the next edition of the Danes. He expects the team to be much improved on face-offs and at the midfield in general, and that could only mean more excitement for lacrosse fans. There was no team more enjoyable to watch in 2013 than Albany. If the team develops in the fall and into 2014, it’s scary to think the Danes could improve upon last season’s results.

Terry Foy (@TerenceFoy)

While I’ll be out of the country for the first part of October and miss some pretty high-profile events, Jamie Munro and the folks at 3d swooped in and helped make sure my fallball won’t go by without something awesome. I’ll be heading out to Colorado Oct. 24 and 25, checking out Notre Dame and Air Force as they tangle on Friday (before the football teams meet on Saturday). But potentially cooler than a run-of-the-mill fallball event, the Irish will be meeting with Munro’s 3d staff to get a few levels deeper on their boxla knowledge, and Munro is bringing out a host of high school lacrosse coaches to do the same. I’m considering suiting up and taking my first shot at being a boxla goalie.

ILWomen.com's Danielle Bernstein (@DaniBernstein)

One of those is Florida, as the Gators enter their first fall without the star-studded cast we’re used to seeing. Kitty Cullen, Brittany Dashiell, Mikey Meagher, Sam Farrell, Ashley Bruns and the rest of the players who took Florida to unprecedented levels of success as the program’s first-ever recruiting class have graduated, leaving opportunities for the next wave of stars to step up. I’m expecting the Florida offense to be in the hands of Shannon Gilroy, who has been a standout through her first two seasons in Gainesville. I’m excited to see who else steps up. Coach Mandee O’Leary has brought in great talent and athleticism — players who are just waiting for their turn to show what they can do. I think Devon Schneider can be an impact midfielder. Sam Darcangelo was one of the top players in last year’s recruiting class, and Darcy Messina could get some time on the attack.

Geoff Shannon (@Geoff_Shannon)

As a recruiting analyst, I’m looking forward to watching how and if freshmen are implemented during fallball. This month, they’ll be acclimated into their respective teams, and in October coaches may either push them on to the field or hold them back depending on plans. In particular, I’m eager to hear how Maryland, who brings in a bevy of young talent including Matt Rambo, Colin Heacock, Tim Rotanz and Connor Cannizzaro, plans to build their offense (though so far I don’t see a fallball event scheduled for them, maybe keeping that process close to the vest?). Across the board though, that’s what I’ll be watching at the events coming up.

Zach Babo (@ZachBabo)

For me the biggest thing in fallball tends to be watching new coaches and new programs. The best part of attending the Headstrong tournament a year ago was watching Joe Amplo and his Marquette squad play with more energy than anyone else as they were more or less making their unofficial DI debut. They had something to prove, played like it, and in the end they were the most buzzed about team from that event. Seeing Michigan struggle at the same tournament the year prior was very telling as well in terms of tempering my expectations. A new coach or a new program just has an edge in the fall that others don’t because this is all new to them, whereas for most others its old hat, that time to get back into the swing of things. That “culture change” that comes with a new coach or a DI debut tends to hit in the fall, and sometimes new coaches and programs need to kick it up a notch when the leaves are changing so that the right message is being sent. I’ll be looking at new teams Boston University, and new coaches like Greg Raymond at Hobart, to bring an edge to the fall their competitors might lack.

John Jiloty (@JJiloty)

I’m most excited to see how transfers do with their new teams: so much buzz last January about Nicky Galasso at Syracuse after he arrived from North Carolina. Now that he’s healthy, how will he do for the Orange, alongside JuCo-transfer Randy Staats? Ohio State gets two promising transfers in attackman Gordie Koerber (Denver) and defenseman Luke Miller (Hobart), while Denver welcomes Hartford’s leading scorer last year in middie Jack Bobzien, who will be a sophomore. Loyola middie Brian Sherlock (North Carolina) is another top transfer to watch this fall.

Joe Sweeney (@JoeSweeney11)

I'm looking forward to watching the continual growth of the Penn State program. Coach Jeff Tambroni has already produced positive results for the Nittany Lions, including a 2013 NCAA playoff appearance. Their incoming recruits have been highly touted after an impressive performance at the Under Armour All-American Game, as Mark Dixon points out in this video. Unfortunately, Penn State has been declared ineligible for the CAA tournament this season after a vote by conference ADs, but that can only inspire the team who will now play with a chip on their shoulder. Penn State's potential has always been high, but I think 2014 will be an important year for the program and I expect them to make a deeper run in the playoffs.

Matt Kinnear (@MattKinnear)

I love the fall: It's a chance to see programs up close in great weather. I usually take a Philly swing during the fall, as well as a handful of Baltimore-D.C. area practices and scrimmages. A few things I'm looking at this year:

— What's next for Navy? I've covered Navy in the fall every year under Rick Sowell. Last year was surely disappointing, so what might the Mids do differently this fall.

— Unique fall work: I've seen teams bringing in sports psychologists, lots of teams incorporating box elements into fall, The Program, and other things. How can coaches get an edge in the fall?

— As Geoff mentioned, Maryland's offense. Excited to see all that fresh talent on the field, but wondering who will play where.